Dubai, UAE, December 10, 2006: Emaar Properties has won the fourth consecutive award this year for overall excellence by winning the ‘Property Company of the Year’ at the Arabian Business Awards 2006, yesterday. The Dubai-based global property developer had earlier been adjudged Best Real Estate Brand in the GCC by the Middle East Excellence Institute, Best Developer in the UAE and Egypt by Euromoney and Developer of the Year by Construction Week.
His Highness Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and Economy and Chairman of General Holding Company, presented the Arabian Business Property Company of the Year 2006 award to Mr Ahmad Al Matrooshi, UAE Managing Director, Emaar Properties, at a gala ceremony held at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi last evening.
The Arabian Business Awards, instituted by the ITP, the publishers of the leading business weekly in the Middle East, are chosen by the public, who nominate their preferred choice on-line. Only one vote is allowed per registered individual. The award recognizes the overall performance of the company including product quality, service excellence and growth strategy.
“This has been an exemplary year for Emaar in terms of peer-group, industry and public recognition. These laurels underscore our pursuit of excellence in all endeavours and reinforce our commitment to the end-users – several thousands of home-owners in Dubai,” said Mr Al Matrooshi.
He added: “Unlike other awards, the Arabian Business Property Company of the Year Award is voted by the general public and represents the voice of the majority. Their nomination of Emaar is an endorsement of our customer-centric approach. As the pioneer of master-planned communities in the UAE, we are setting new benchmarks, and every award reinforces our quality and service standards.”
Emaar has handed over more than 14,500 homes in Dubai. Currently, Emaar is building its flagship project – the AED 73 billion (US$20 billion) Downtown Burj Dubai, which has at its epicenter Burj Dubai, billed to be the tallest tower in the world when completed in 2008.
“Emaar is now on an expansion and diversification drive, which is in line with our Vision 2010 to become one of the most valuable companies in the world,” said Mr Al Matrooshi. “We have expanded to more than 15 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Libya, Jordan, Pakistan and India. Apart from property development, we have also identified five key growth sectors – education, retail, healthcare, hospitality and finance.”
Emaar has made strategic acquisitions and entered into joint ventures internationally. “Emaar acquired John Laing Homes, the second largest privately held homebuilder in the US, and Hamptons International, the premier UK realtor. We have also joined hands with Turner Corporation, a leading international building services provider, to form a new entity – Turner International Middle East Ltd – to jointly tap growth opportunities. Emaar acquired Singapore-based Raffles Campus to lend educational expertise at its up-and-coming educational institutions across the Middle East and North Africa region, the Indian Subcontinent and South Asia,” added Mr Al Matrooshi.
